ASHFIELD — Get a glimpse of the early fall foliage, distinctive artwork and a taste of autumn at this weekend’s Ashfield Fall Festival, Oct. 6 and 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There are new exhibitors this year on the second-floor of Town Hall, along with the traditions that the fair is known for: pumpkin games/relay races on Saturday, live music on the Common, local arts and crafts and food specialties at every turn.
“This is our 49th year,” said Beverly Duncan, who chairs the festival’s Arts and Crafts Committee. “Sometimes people lose sight of the original purpose, which was to highlight our local artisans, while raising money for the Ashfield Scholarship Fund. The whole Fall Festival has grown huge. This year, we’re going to have an exciting group, both upstairs in the Town Hall and in the big tent on the Common. We really want to encourage these (artists) to come back.”
Duncan said the festival still has a small-town feel that organizers hope will continue into the festival’s future, while still offering quality artwork and crafts.
This year’s annual festival offers craft and art exhibits by more than 50 exhibitors. Also, there is locally-grown and prepared foods, live music and dance.
Bring the children for Saturday’s annual Pumpkin games, or either day for such children’s activities as the fidget ladder, Pirate Hook Ring-toss or Castle Raiders.
The Festival offers something for everyone: shoppers can find fine art and locally made crafts, or shop a giant tag sale and pick up book bargains from the annual Friends of the Belding Memorial Library sale. Favorite foods range from hot applesauce sundaes to chicken pot pies and apple cider doughnuts, kielbasa grinders, Tibetan dumplings and Gray’s Maple Sugarhouse fried dough.
Admission is free. Parking is available in lots east of the town center on Route 116 (donations gratefully accepted for the Ashfield Scholarship Fund).
Saturday’s music includes: Original music by Radio Free Earth, the Ashfield Community Band and fiddler Zoe Darrow and it will end with the Morris dancers.
On Sunday, the line-up is Lui Collins, the Jazz Hill Trio, roots music with “From the Woods,” old-timey songs by One Park Luck and the indie-rock ground Parlicium.
For a full schedule of events, go to: www.ashfieldfallfestival.org